The 'Boathouse'

Designs for a three bedroomed timber-framed house on a tightly packed Thames island. The kinked roof gains height for an upper level and minimalises the bulk for planning purposes. Extensive roof glazing is necessary as the side elevations are obstructed. A floodable basement for boat storage and water recycling tanks.

Initially rejected by a planning department still formulating their policy for the island, we developed the design. Ultimately Planning Permission could not be obtained because the Environment Agency revised upward the flood risk level - the lowest level at which the ground floor was to be set - whilst the maximum height of the development was not raised, leaving too little height for two storeys. The revised flood level was related to Global Warming, bringing home the real problems that environmental damage brings.